Gulf Coast Wonder: The Story of the Aquatarium
May 11, 2026Local artist Paul Eppling (1949–2016) was a beloved metal sculptor whose work became a distinctive part of the city’s visual landscape. He saw potential where others saw scrap and used discarded industrial pieces, old car bumpers, traffic signals, license plates and other found metal to create whimsical animal figures and imaginative creatures.
Eppling first made his mark in the 1970s and continued building his metal art in St. Petersburg for nearly five decades, becoming a fixture of the local arts community.
One of his most iconic pieces (pictured) is the Security Lizard, a 30-foot sculpture welded from recycled bumpers and parts that sits atop the City of St. Petersburg Fleet Maintenance building, its long tongue capturing a giant fly that doubles as a light at night. His work also appears in Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, where armadillos, herons and other creatures greet hikers along the trails.
Eppling’s art celebrated ingenuity, playfulness and the beauty of everyday materials. His sculptures have inspired public art appreciation and continue to delight residents and visitors alike long after his passing.